They were waiting for Javed when he arrived. Shyam probably said the truth - this place was filled with cameras and he saw Javed coming.
The space was very far from perfect - open field surrounded by some sheds where Shyam probably held Anjali all this time... not much places Anjali could get to quickly... Javed's plan seemed riskier by the minute.
Javed stopped once he was sure that Shyam would hear him. Shyam also stopped pushing Anjali whom he kept in front of himself like a shield. Maybe he'd expected Javed to bring weapon. He was crazy to think that Javed would risk Anjali's life like that... also Javed was no good with guns.
Javed shouted:
- I came. Are we waiting for your friends or can we get this party started?
Shyam brushed off this mocking suggestion:
- I'm not waiting for anybody! You?
Javed murmured to himself "He's alone... good" and said to Shyam:
- Nuh, Arnav wanted to come but I'd told him there wouldn't be enough of you even for me so he shouldn't bother!
Shyam jerked nervously and shouted:
- Come, if you are so brave! Come!
Anjali shouted too:
- Javed, leave! Please, go!
Shyam pushed her to the side and she fell to the ground. Shyam berated her:
- Learn your place, woman!
Javed launched forward... but then remembered that for his plan to work he needed to keep his distance... for now.
Shyam invited Javed:
- What's up, golden boy? Afraid to come closer?
Javed shrugged:
- No, just not that stupid. You'd think I came here just to hand myself over to you? I came here to trade... me for Anjali.
Shyam looked at Anjali curiously as if she suddenly held some value in this world... and asked Javed:
- And how do you suppose we should trade?
- Haven't you seen any movies? She comes that way, - Javed showed the direction opposite to Shyam, - I come towards you. Once Anjali leaves the field you have me. Simple. You should be able to handle this math.
Shyam measured the distances Javed referred to and asked some more:
- What's to stop me from bringing her back once I'm done with you? Not like she can sprint...
Javed looked at Anjali answering this question, trying to explain its importance with his intense gaze:
- I'd try to keep you entertained to give her a sporting chance. Also... who's to say you're going to win this?
Shyam waved his gun to Javed:
- Hey, remember this? I don't think Harvard degree makes you bulletproof.
And this time Javed took his next calculated risk. He said simply:
- Shoot. I'm not even moving - try shooting me now.
- No, Javed, no! - screamed Anjali but Shyam was already drunk with possibilities and shot once.
The bullet hit sand five feet away from Javed raising small cloud of dust. Javed smirked and raised an eyebrow disapprovingly:
- Just as I thought - your aim is awful. Or is it you terrible luck - you just don't seem to be able to kill me!
Shyam stomped his foot in childish way and shouted:
- Next time I won't miss!
Javed touched his index finger to his lips and pretended to do some calculations. Then he told Shyam his results:
- Considering your terrible aim and the fact that I'm standing against the sun... I just think it'll be easier for you if I come really close. And remember - you've already spent your one chance, this gun holds only six more.
Anjali looked at Javed in horror - he was discussing his death so calmly as it was lunch plans! But Javed was unfazed by her expression - he had to be focused on the game he was playing.
- So, Shyam, what say you - shall we dance? Anjali walks away, I come closer - and you can try your luck again.
Shyam bent over and yanked Anjali to her feet. He pushed her towards Javed:
- Go! I'll catch up with you later...
Anjali didn't have to be asked twice - she walked as fast as her swollen ankles let her.
Javed chose to move diagonally so his and Anjali's paths would cross far enough from Shyam. Shyam knew that Javed wouldn't try to run away since Anjali couldn't run with him... and Javed knew that Shyam wouldn't come any closer not to scare him away. That was the most dangerous tango in his life...
When Javed finally reached Anjali he took her hand and exhaled happily - she was there, with him, alive... He whispered quickly:
- Anjali, walk away. No matter what, don't go back, - she tried to contradict but he silenced her, - shhhh, I know, everything will be all right, I promise. Just walk away as fast as you can and I'll take care of rest. I have a plan.
Anjali brought his hand to her mouth and kissed his knuckles one by one:
- Please, come back to me. Safe.
Javed kissed her palm and assured her:
- As you wish, milady.
...
Shyam was getting impatient:
- Hey, doves, cut it! I don't have all day!
Javed let go of Anjali and waited till she will reach the closest structure that hid her from his gaze. Javed turned around and asked:
- Why in such a hurry to die? Lets play first! In my time I was considered very promising in boxing circles... and I'd heard you weren't bad yourself. Are you going to pass a chance to destroy this beautiful face of mine? The one your wife preferred to yours?
This taunting wasn't strictly logical - Shyam wasn't jealous of Javed in that way... but his primitive instincts kicked in anyways and he snapped. Shyam tucked his gun under his belt and took a stance:
- Come, pretty boy, I'll do a quick one on you! I promise not to be gentle!
...
The fighters were somewhat equal - Javed was lighter and quicker, Shyam was stronger. But Javed wasn't really going to win this fight, he just needed to stall Shyam for five more minutes so and his men would have time to get there... with Shyam being too busy to notice any alarms.
Shyam made a mistake of opening his torso and Javed took the opportunity - he threw a punch to his solar plexus making Shyam bent over short of breath. Shyam stepped backwards to make some space buffer between them... then tripped and landed on the ground. The gun fell down few feet away from Shyam. And few feet away from Javed.
There was this silent scene of crossing glances when both men were calculating who is closer to the gun. Both made the same conclusion - Shyam was. So Shyam sprinted for the gun, Javed sprinted away from him.
And still he couldn't run fast enough - he'd heard gunfire and something whistled close to his ear. He ran faster - but the next bullet hit his thigh and Javed stumbled. He still could move and tried doing so because Javed heard Shyam running behind him to get a better firing distance...
And then they both heard her scream:
- Javed, no! Shyam, don't hurt him!
So she didn't walk away as he'd told her to. Anjali hid and waited for him... to help him probably... which she was trying to do now by distracting Shyam's attention. She'd almost succeeded - Shyam fired again, this time at Anjali. And missed. But he had three more bullets and Javed wasn't going to bet Anjali's life on Shyam's bad aim. If that maniac needed a target, Javed was going to give it to him.
Javed turned around and walked towards Shyam. It was hard because his leg was numbing because of the blood loss... but he still walked towards Shyam with murderous expression. Shyam knew that if Javed would reach him alive he would kill him with his bare hands.
Shyam took a second to aim and shot. The bullet hit Javed below ribs piercing his lung - Javed felt the taste of his own blood in his mouth... but he still walked... two more bullets.
Anjali was still crying out to Shyam but he was deaf to her pleads - Shyam could already see his victory in Javed's crippled walk and bloody cough... and he still had two bullets.
The next shot hit left side of Javed's chest. He fell to the ground and his eyes rolled... Javed saw Anjali - all colors drained from her face, her knees buckled and she fell like a chopped down tree. Than his view was obscured by Shyam's ugly grimace - he was already celebrating:
- Don't you worry for her, she'd survived fall down the stairs, and she'll survive this!
Javed trying saying something but blood filled his mouth and he choked. Shyam put his gun to Javed's forehead and asked:
- What you think - shall I miss this time?
Javed... smiled. No, Shyam won't miss. But it was the last bullet. And five minutes must be over now. Anjali is safe.
And then the last shot was fired.
And life around Javed went dark and silent.